Shipping container



Jan. 9, 1945 B. J. DAVIDSON SHIPPING CONTAINER Filed Jan. 11, 1943 INVENTORQ Patented Jan. 9, 1945 UNlTEDf I STATES PATENT OFFICE SHIPPING CONTAINER Bruce J. Davidsomlvlanhasset, N. Y., assignor to National Biscuit Company, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New Jersey 7 Application Januaryl l, 1943, Serial No. 472,061

3 Claims. (01. 229-33) -My invention pertains to shipping containers and particularly to containers wherein the height is the least dimension and the containers aremade tobe sealed andopened at the'top. Such containers or cases are generally used for packs aging cans of .materials, as fruits, vegetables, soups, paint and the like. The case usually is made to hold six or twelve cans arranged 2 x 3 or- 3 x 4, so that its height equals the height. of the cans. These cases, as heretofore made, are closed at the top and bottom by side and end flaps, and commonly are left with the top closingfiaps unsealed so that the cans can be inspected duringstorage or readily removed for labeling or other marking'prior to shipment. Because of the relatively short, height of the cases, it requires a large amount of material to make them when they open In the accompanying drawing, I have shown my invention embodied'in a carton or shippingv case adapted to hold six cans. I s

Fig. 1 shows a single piece blank from which the carton is formed.

Fig. 2 shows the carton formed from the blank of Fig. l and filled ready to have-the top and ends closed. I I

. Fig. 3 shows the carton sealed, ready for shipment.

Referring to Fig. 1, the blank is scored along the lines I, 2, 3, 4 to define a top sealing tab 5,

front wall 6, bottom 1, rear wall 8 andtop or cover 9. Longitudinal score lines IO, N, together with cuts or narrow slots |2, |3, l4, l5, l6, l1, define flaps I8, I9, 20, 2 |,'22, 23, 24, These flaps are all of the same Width, except the two top end closing flapsZl, 25 which are cut away at 26, 21, 28, 29 to form tongues or tucks 3|], 3|. The width or height of the front, bottom and rear flaps is greater than one-half the width of-the front and rear panels 6, 8, by an amount equal to one-half the length of the tongues 30, 3|. Or,

stated another way, the width of the bottom flap ,fiaps I8, 20, and 22, 24.

When the container or case is formed from the blank' of Fig. 1, the panell forms the bottom and th panels 6 and 8 are turned up along the score lines 2, 3 to form the front and rear walls. The flaps I8, 20 are turned in at one end and the flaps 22,24 at the other. Then the bottom end flaps I9, 23 are turned up and secured to the front and rear flaps by gluing or stapling, as shown at 32, 33, in Fig. 2. The height or width of the flaps I8, 20, 22, 24 is less than one half the width of the bottom panel I, so that their inner ends are spaced apart to receive the tongues 30, 3|. The case is now ready for filling.

I have shown the case filled with six cans 34. If the filled case is to be put in storage without sealing, the sealing tab 5 will'be turned down over the cans, then the flaps 2|, 25 will be turned in and the lid 9 closed, with the tongues 33, 3| entering between therespective end flaps I8, 28 and 22, 24. The sides of the tongues 30, 3| may be tapered as shown and their width is such that they fit snugly between the end flaps so as to hold the case closed. This permits the case to be opened readily for inspection or for labeling the I tinsat any time.

When the case is to be sealed for shipment, adhesive 35 will be applied to the tab 5 and flaps 2| 25, as shown in Fig. 2. The case is then reclosed, the top 9 adhering to the sealing tab 5 and the flaps 2|, 25 adhering to the top parts of the end The case, closed and sealed, is shown in Fig. 3. If desired, tape or sealing strips 36, 37, 38 may be placed over the joints instead of gluing, or to reinforce the gluing, but ordinarily these strips are not used.

In top closing shipping cases as known and used heretofore, the top is closed by two end flaps and two side flaps. The width of each end flap equals one half the width of the case and its length equals the full width of the case. The width of each side flap equals one half the width of the case and its length equals the full length of the case. The bottom is closed by four flaps the same as the top. The two side flaps (top or bottom) overlie and are secured to the underlying end flaps when the cases are closed. The

combined areas of the two side flaps (top or botand that the tab is two inches wide.

case of the same dimensions than does the present invention.

Now, for comparison of my invention with the top closing shipping case as used heretofore, assume that the cans, 34, require a case 12x18x8 inches, which is a usual size. Also assume that the tongues 30, 3| are one inch long Then the overall length of the blank of Fig. 11 is 12-1-8+12'+8+2=42 inches. The width of the blank is 4 /2+18+4 =27 inches. This makes the blank 42 x 27 inches and it contains 1134' square inches of material.

For a top closing carton as used universally heretofore of the same dimensions", but without a securing tab corresponding to tab 5, the overall length of the blank is 18+ 12+18+12=60 inches. The width is 6+8+6=20 inches. The number of square inches is 60 x 20:.1200. My invention thus effects a saving of 66 square inches per case, or 5 When a securing tab' corresponding to tab 5 is used, its width is 1 ,5 inches. Then the overall length of theblank is 61 inches and its area is 1230 square inches. The saving then is 96 square inches or 7.8%..

The less the height or depth of the case, the

greater is the saving. Thus if the case be it inches high instead of 8, the areas "of the two blanks are 8-50 square inches and i080 square inches, respectively, a. saving 01230 square inches.

: invention therefore finds greatest ultilcl tyv in.

packaging cans, glass jars and the like that are: usually packed in a single layer or tier.

When the case is to be sealed. as soon. as filled, the tongues 30, 3t may be omitted, and. all of the end flaps will be of uniform. width equal to one:- half the height of the case;v so that the edges of the flaps I9, 20 and 23, will abut. at the: center of the ends. This eifects arr even greater saving.

While I have shown. the tab 5' secured: to the: front panel 6, it may be attachedto the free edge of the cover 9,. inv which case it. may be secured inside or outside of the front panel, when the: case is sealed.- Likewise, this tab 5 may overlie,

instead of underlie. thecover Having thus describedv my invention, what? I claim is: g

l, A shipping case formed from a singlepiece blank cut and scored to form front, bottom, and rear panels with flaps at each end. turned at right angles to the respective panels, the: bottomflaps being of less Width than. the frontand. rear panels and. secured outside: the front and' rear flaps, the Width of the front and rear' flaps being less than one half the width of the bottompanel so that their inner. ends are spaced apart, a sealing tab secured: along a score line to the top edge of the front panel, a cover hinged at one edge to the top edge of the rear panel, an end closing flap secured to each end of the cover, each end closing fiap having a tapered tongue fitting between the spaced inner ends of the front and rear flaps and extending inside of the adjacent bottom flap, the maximum width of said tongues being substantially equal to the space between said front'and rear: flaps, said sealing tab being secured to the front edge of the cover.

2. A shipping case formed from a single piece blank cut and scored to form front, bottom and rear panels with flaps at each end turned at right angles to the respective panels, the lengths of the flaps being equal to the widths of the respective panels to which they are attached, the bottorri' flaps being of less width than the width of the front and rear panels and secured outside the front and rear flaps, the width of the front and rear flaps being. less than one half the width of the bottom panel so that their inner ends are spaced apart, a cover hinged at one edge to the top edge of the rear panel, an end closing flap secured to each end: of the cover, each end closing flap: having a rectangular partand a tongue extending therebeyond, each tonguefitting between the spacedinner ends of the front and rear flaps and extending inside of the adjacent bottom flap, the rectangular part of each end. closing flap abutting the top edge of the adjacent bottom flap; and means for securing the front edge of the cover tothe top edge of the front panel.

3; Ashipplng case formed from a single piece blank out andscored to form front, bottom and rear panels with flaps at each end turned at right angles to the respective panels, the lengths of the flaps being equal tothe widths of the re spective panels to which they are attached, the width. of the bottom flaps being greater than one half the width of the front and rear panels and secured outside the front and rear flap-s, the width of the front and rear flaps being less than one half the width of the bottom panel whereby their inner ends are spaced apart, a seal-- ing tab secured along a score line tothe top edge of the front panel, a cover hinged at one edge to the top edge of the rear panel, an end closing flap secured to each end of the cover, the end closing flaps overlying and being secured toithe front and rear flaps, the widthof the end closing flapsbeing less than one halfthe width of the front and rear panels so that they abut the bottom flaps, said sealing tab being secured to the front edge of the cover, each end closing flap having a tongue fitting between the spaced ends of the frontand rear flaps, the combined length of the tongue and width of the end closing flap being equal to the width of a bottom flap, the maximum width of said tongues being not greater than the space between said front and rear flaps.

BRUCE J. DAVIDSON. 

